February 24, 2022
Source: Gardener's World Photo / Image Source: Unsplash,
We show you how to get your greenhouse ready for spring sowing and growing.
With fewer outdoor gardening tasks to be done, winter is the ideal time to reorganise your greenhouse, in preparation for spring. By de-cluttering, having a thorough clean and adding a few items of kit, you can create the optimum growing conditions for your crops. Choose a full day and start by having a good clear out, evicting all the things that shouldn’t be there. Next, gather together all the useful kit you have and give it a clean. Once you've cleared and cleaned, you can take stock of what you need for the growing season ahead.
Add greenhouse vents
Insufficient ventilation is one of the main reasons why greenhouse plants suffer from fungal diseases. To combat this, you need to ensure there are enough openings, and that they’re positioned correctly to allow good air circulation through the greenhouse. Ideally this would include two slatted vents located low down on either side, and two roof vents at the top.
Automatic vent openers
If you can, invest in an automatic vent-opener. On hot days it could be a life-saver for your plants. If you forget to open the vents for any reason, the automatic opener will ensure that hot air can still escape, preventing plants from shrivelling.
Use shade netting
In summer, you need to protect plants from harsh sun, so invest in shade netting to throw over each side of the greenhouse. You can also fit indoor blinds, but these are expensive and may knock into pots and growing bags. You could also use inexpensive shade paint that can be washed off.
Install electricity
Installing electricity in a greenhouse is expensive, but is well worth it as it opens up so many possibilities. It'll allow you to have a good light source to work by in the evenings and plug in propagators or heated mats. It also allows you to run an electric heater with a thermostat, which only uses power when you need it. Employ a qualified electrician to install power – it's illegal and dangerous to do it yourself.
Plugging in to a greenhouse power socket: Generate heat
A source of heat will extend your growing season and increase the range of plants you can grow. If you have a power supply, a heater with an automatic thermostat will do the work for you. To keep the greenhouse frost-free in winter, aim for 4°C or above. Otherwise, use a greenhouse paraffin heater, although these need attending to usually twice a day. You can also use a propagator as a 'greenhouse within a greenhouse', providing added protection.
Store water
Plants in greenhouses need much more water than those outside, so be prepared. Most also prefer rainwater to tap water, so a water butt (or two) connected to the downpipes is a good idea. They’re easy to install, along with gutter kits that fit a wide range of greenhouses.
Water the right way
Keep a bucket filled with ambient-temperature water – chilly water from outdoors can give plants a shock. It’ll also boost humidity on hot days. If your outdoor tap is some distance from your greenhouse, run a hose to it, fitted to a post. It’ll save you carrying lots of heavy watering cans. For more on watering, check out our reviews of the best hoses, or our guide to watering cans.
Outdoor tap fitted to a painted wooden containerBuy growing bags
In a greenhouse you have three main options on where to grow your plants – in pots, growing bags or border soil. Border soil needs regular replenishing or sterilising to prevent pests and diseases building up, so using growing bags and pots is often more sensible. Once you’ve harvested the crops, you simply add the spent compost to the compost heap and start again, with no worries about soil-borne diseases lingering into following years.
Clean and clear the greenhouse Before you start sowing and growing, its a good idea to clear the greenhouse of old plant material that can harbour plant diseases. Compost this, then clean the surfaces of shelves and staging with using warm, soapy water. Follow our full advice on cleaning and tidying the greenhouse when doing this, and our experts have tested the best pressure washers so you can buy in confidence.
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